Isaac d



I. D. WRIGHT. SHOE FASTENER (No ModeL UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC D.'WRIGHT, or SEDALIA, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT ANDMESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO OARLON C. vAN WAGNER, WILLIAM H. vAN WAGNER,

ISAAC D. WEIGHT, AND R. H. MoSE or SAME PLACE,

SHOE-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 526,956, dated October2, 1894. Application filed April 9, 1894- Serial No. 506.919. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC D. WRIGHT, of the city of Sedalia, Pettiscounty, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Shoe-Fasteners, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to improved devices for automatically adj ustingand clamping the heel of a low shoe, or slipper, to the wearer, or theheel of an overshoe to the heel of the shoe, or boot, over which it isworn, and has for its object the provision of means to espe-,

' 2o efficient in securing the shoe, or slipper, to

the foot, so that it will not be capable of accidental displacementduring the act of walking, or stooping, and which will also prevent theovershoe from being withdrawn accidentally by the adhesion of the sameto the soil.

My invention consists of an improved spring frame adapted especially tocontinuously urge the foot forward in the shoe.

Referring to the drawing: The figure is a 0 perspective view of a lowshoe, showing my device attached thereto.

In the construction of the device, the nu- Ineral 2O designates a shoeand 21 a spring frame secured thereto. The spring frame 3 5 comprisesthe movable arched portion 22, adapted to cross the rear portion of ashoe above the same, and the convolutely wound end portions 23 adaptedto be fixed to the sides of the shoe, bymeans 0t staples 24, the extremeend portion of the portions 23 being extended forwardly in anapproximately horizontal plane, across and outside of the lower ends ofthe arched-portion 22, for the purpose of guiding the same and providedwith 5 an eye 25, adapted to be secured to the side of the shoe, bymeans of a staple 26.

I have illustrated the device as secured to the shoe, by means ofstaples, but it is obvious that any other rigid fastening may beemployed, the intent and object being merely to provide a secure andclosely contiguous connection between the frame and the shoe. Theportion 22 of the frame 21 is of such a length as that when the same isdepressed into the plane of the top edge of the side portions of theshoe, it will embrace the rear portion of said shoe, and be out of theplane of entrance of the foot into said shoe, as required to permit thepositioning of the shoe relative to the foot. The resilience of therevolubly wound portion 23 causes the portion 22 of the frame 21 toreassume a position in the rear of, and above, the heel of the wearerafter the downward pressure thereon is relieved, the parts acting likebell-crank -levers, and said arched-portion is urged especially forward,carrying with it the inner shoe and the wearers foot, thus firmlyconnecting the shoe to the wearer by the engagement of said frame withthe upper and rear portion of the heel. Fixed to the rear portion of theshoe 20 is a Slotted strap 27, which said strap engages, at its upperend portion, with the central portion of the spring frame, a portion ofsaid strap extending above the said spring frame and being adapted formanual actuation in a downward direction to cause the strap to act upon,and depress, thespring frame. 1

What I claim is-- The improved shoe-retainer, comprising an arched bodyhaving substantially vertical arms and integral coils at its ends fixedto the shoe and bent in the form of a bell-crank lever and adapted tourge the foot forward in the shoe, the coils at each end of said archedbody being fixed to the shoe at a point a suitable distance in the rearof the vertical arms of said body, and horizontal-portions extendingacross and outside of the vertical arms of said body and fixed at theirforward ends to the shoeat a point some distance in advance of saidarms, and acting as guides or keepers for the latter, substantially asherein specified.- y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC D. WRIGHT Witnesses:

E. E. LONGAN, J N0. 0. HIGDON.

